What Are the Chakra Symbols? (And What Do They Represent?)

The 7 Chakras & Their Symbols

Root chakra (Muladhara): The 4-petaled lotus The root chakra symbol features an inverted triangle inside a square inside a large 4-petaled lotus flower. The lotus petals symbolize the 4 aspects of the human psyche: the mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), consciousness (chitta) and ego (ahamkara). Similarly, the 4 sides of the square represent the 4 elements, cardinal directions, and seasons (it’s also a very sturdy shape which suits the root chakra’s grounded energy). The inverted triangle points down to the root chakra at the base of the spine, from where consciousness grows. What does the root chakra do? The root chakra represents your foundation and makes you feel grounded and able to cope with the challenges of life. It governs survival issues like money, food, and financial stability. Color: Red Element: Earth Location: Base of the spine Mantra: “Lam” Asana: Tadasana (Mountain pose) Symptoms of blockage: Feelings of fear, anxiety, or instability Signs of balance: Feeling grounded, secure, and connected to the earth

Sacral chakra (Svadhishthana): The 6-petaled lotus The sacral chakra symbol features two concentric circles forming a crescent moon shape inside of a large, 6-petaled lotus flower. The 6 lotus petals represent the 6 qualities you must overcome to balance this chakra: anger, hatred, jealousy, cruelty, desire, and pride. The two circles and the moon represent the cycles of life and the never ending flow of experience (related to the sacral chakra’s element of water). What does the sacral chakra do? The sacral chakra is the seat of your emotions, creativity, and sexual energy. It controls your sense of abundance, well-being, sexuality, and pleasure. Color: Orange Element: Water Location: Lower abdomen below the navel Mantra: “Vam” Asana: Virabhadrasana (Warrior pose) Symptoms of blockage: Feelings of guilt or shame, or a lack of creativity or inspiration Signs of balance: Feeling emotionally stable, creative, and passionate about life

Solar plexus chakra (Manipura): The 10-petaled lotus This symbol depicts an inverted yellow triangle inside a large, 10-petaled lotus flower. Some traditions say the 10 lotus petals represent the 10 qualities you have to overcome to open this chakra (sadness, foolishness, delusion, disgust, fear, shame, treachery, jealousy, ambition, and ignorance), similar to the 6-petaled lotus. However, others believe they represent the 10 energies (pranas) that permeate the human body. The inverted triangle symbolizes the flow of energy from the universe into willpower. What does the solar plexus chakra do? The solar plexus chakra is your center of self-confidence and control. It governs your self-esteem and feelings of worth. Color: Yellow Element: Fire Location: Upper abdomen below the chest Mantra: “Ram” Asana: Setu bandhasana (Bridge pose) Symptoms of blockage: Feelings of insecurity, low self-esteem, and a lack of motivation or willpower Signs of balance: Feeling confident, courageous, or motivated to achieve your goals

Heart chakra (Anahata): The 12-petaled lotus The heart chakra symbol features a hexagram made of two intersecting triangles within a large 12-petaled lotus. The lotus petals represent both the 12 qualities of the heart (bliss, peace, harmony, love, understanding, empathy, clarity, purity, unity, compassion, kindness, and forgiveness) as well as its blocking qualities (lust, fraud, indecision, repentance, hope, anxiety, longing, impartiality, arrogance, incompetence, discrimination, and defiance). The hexagram symbolizes the heart chakra’s position between the low, material chakras and high, spiritual chakras (one triangle points downward and one points upward). It’s also the Hindi symbol for the blending of masculine and feminine energies. What does the heart chakra do? The heart chakra bridges the lower and higher chakras. It influences your ability to give and receive love from others and yourself and controls feelings of love, joy, and inner peace. Color: Green Element: Air Location: Center of the chest Mantra: “Yam” Asana: Ustrasana (Camel pose) Symptoms of blockage: Negative emotions like jealousy, anger, or resentment Signs of balance: Feelings of joy, forgiveness, and gratitude

Throat chakra (Vishuddha): The 16-petaled lotus This symbol shows a small circle inside an inverted triangle within a 16-petaled lotus flower. The lotus petals are the 16 kalas (abilities or developmental stages) you experience from Kala Annamaya (birth) to Kala Swarupavasthitha (knowing the God-Self). The inverted triangle illustrates the flow of consciousness from the highest chakras to the throat so you can speak your truth. The circle is thought to be the full moon, a symbol of a pure mind. What does the throat chakra do? The throat chakra controls your ability to communicate and express yourself clearly. It’s the seat of your personal power and symbolizes the truth. Color: Blue Element: Ether or space Location: In the throat Mantra: “Ham” Asana: Matsyasana (Fish pose) Symptoms of blockage: A lack of self-expression, difficulty speaking, or physical symptoms like a sore throat or thyroid issues Signs of balance: Ability to express yourself clearly, communicate effectively, and listen to others with empathy

Third eye chakra (Ajna): The 2-petaled lotus The third eye chakra symbol depicts the “Om” symbol inside of an inverted triangle within a 2-petaled lotus flower. The lotus petals here represent the last remaining duality on your journey to enlightenment: the Self and God. Some also believe they represent the 2 halves of the brain, just behind the chakra. The inverted triangle again represents the flow of consciousness and energy from a higher power while the “Om” symbol (the most important spiritual symbol in Hinduism) is the source-sound of all creation. What does the third eye chakra do? The third eye chakra sees beyond the visible and controls your ability to connect with your intuition and see the bigger picture. It also influences your imagination and wisdom. Color: Indigo Element: Light Location: Forehead between the eyebrows Mantra: “Om” Asana: Balasana (Child’s pose) Symptoms of blockage: Confusion, trouble focusing, and difficulty making decisions Signs of balance: Heightened intuition and creativity and a deeper connection to your higher self

Crown chakra (Sahasrara): The thousand-petaled lotus Unlike the other chakra symbols, the thousand-petaled lotus does not contain any other shapes or symbols inside of it. Instead, its center bursts forth with a thousand petals, representing the burst and blossoming of full consciousness, enlightenment, and connection to the divine. What does the crown chakra do? This is the highest chakra and symbolizes your spiritual connection to the divine. It influences both your inner and outer beauty and can give you access to a higher consciousness when it’s fully open. Color: Violet or white Element: Consciousness or your connection to the divine Location: Top of the head Mantra: “Ah” Asana: Savasana (Corpse pose) Symptoms of blockage: Feelings of disconnection or confusion and a lack of purpose Signs of balance: Feelings of inner peace, a clear mind, and a deep connection to the universe

What are chakras?

Chakras are pools of energy that sit in specific places along your spine. In Sanskrit, chakra means “wheel” or “circle” and refers to 7 spots where the flowing life force (prana) in your body gets concentrated. The chakras contribute to your overall well-being when they’re open or balanced, but can negatively affect your mental, emotional, and spiritual health when they’re blocked or unbalanced. The channels or lines where prana flows between chakras are called nadi. Each chakra also corresponds to a part of your body and is believed to influence the health of that region, but there is little scientific research to back this up. Uplifting and mindful activities like deep breathing, thinking positively, exercising, and eating a healthy diet can support your chakras and the flow of energy through your body. Poor lifestyle habits and negativity, on the other hand, can contribute to blocking your chakras and disrupting the energy flow in your body.

Chakras are very important in Hindu and Buddhist spiritual beliefs. Some of the earliest Hindu writings from 1500 BC to 500 BC are believed to be the first written mention of chakras. In Hinduism, the 7 chakras represent focal points for meditation that eventually lead to spiritual transformation. In Buddhism, they symbolize varying levels of consciousness, enlightenment, and spiritual development.

Balancing Your Chakras

Yoga and asana poses Yoga is a great way to open up the flow of energy inside you and balance your chakras (especially the lower ones). While each chakra has its own asana, or yoga poses, that help balance it, any move you do will have benefits for all your chakras. Take a few moments to relax and unwind, then try a yoga routine featuring some of these moves: Tadasana (Mountain pose) to open the root chakra Virabhadrasana (Warrior pose) to open the sacral chakra Setu bandhasana (Bridge pose) to open the solar plexus chakra Ustrasana (Camel pose) to open the heart chakra Matsyasana (Fish pose) to open the throat chakra Balasana (Child’s pose) to open the third eye chakra Savasana (Corpse pose) to open the crown chakra

Meditation Meditating on each chakra every day is one of the best ways to keep them balanced and help your mind and spirit continue developing. To start, get comfortable in a quiet, private room and do breathing exercises for a few minutes to clear your mind. Then, focus on each chakra one by one, starting with the root chakra and working your way up. Close your eyes and visualize each chakra in your body. Imagine a spinning ball or pool that’s glowing with the color of each chakra (for example, red for the root chakra or blue for the throat chakra). Focus your thoughts and sensations on each area of the body where a chakra sits. What do you feel? What emotions or thoughts are coming to your mind? If you’re new to chakra meditation, try using a guided meditation video online or an app like Chakra Meditation Balancing.

Diet A balanced diet makes for balanced chakras. In general, eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and lean protein supports open chakras, while processed foods, excessive meat, or overeating can block them. To target a specific chakra, eat foods of the same color: Root chakra: Red foods like strawberries, apples, red meat (in moderation), or root vegetables. Sacral chakra: Orange foods like oranges, carrots, or sweet potatoes. Solar plexus chakra: Yellow foods like lemon juice, bananas, pineapple, corn, or eggs. Heart chakra: Green foods like leafy greens and vegetables. Throat chakra: Blue food and drink like blueberries, blue corn, or even bleu cheese. Third eye chakra: Deep blue or purple foods like eggplant, blackberries, plums, and grapes. Crown chakra: Purple foods or white foods like coconut and cauliflower.

Reiki Reiki is an energy healing practice where a trained Reiki master channels energy or universal life force into you through their hands (either touching you gently or hovering their hands just above you). By doing so, they may help heal or unblock a closed chakra by focusing energy into it. Although it’s possible to perform on yourself, it’s a more effective experience to have a trained professional open your chakras with Reiki for you.

Sound healing Try meditating while slowly chanting the mantra of each chakra, holding a steady note for the duration of your breath and focusing on that chakra. Or, meditate alongside drones at a frequency that resonates with certain chakras (there are lots of videos like this on YouTube or guided meditation apps you can use). There’s no consensus around which exact frequencies correspond to each chakra, but some use these as a guide: Root chakra: 256 Hz (C) Sacral chakra: 288 Hz (D) Solar plexus chakra: 320 Hz (E) Heart chakra: 341.3 Hz (F) Throat chakra: 384 Hz (G) Third eye chakra: 426.7 Hz (A) Crown chakra: 480 Hz (B)

Aromatherapy Certain fragrances or aromas can also awaken your chakras, either all at once or by targeting each chakra. Light a candle or incense with one of these scents while you’re meditating or using sound healing to aid your practice, or use essential oils in your bath or on your skin (just make sure to dilute it first). Lavender, frankincense, sandalwood, and rose are all believed to help stimulate and balance all of your chakras in several different practices.